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Sanders and Snow Run Away with Wins at Steelhead

Lionel Sanders and Cait Snow lit up the run course to win Maytag IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead.

by Shawn Skene

Sanders makes it a hat trick of wins for 2014

IRONMAN Brazil champion Igor Amorelli (BRA) was first to emerge from Lake Michigan and up the sandy beach of Tiscornia Park into the first transition. James Cotter (NZL), who is mounting a come-back from injuries that hampered him for over two years, and Fabio Carvalho (BRA) were seven seconds back. Pre-race favorite Lionel Sanders (CAN) spotted the leaders five minutes in the water, but was in his element once he got to dry land.

Amorelli rode solo off the front for much of the ride until he was overtaken by Sanders in the closing miles. Only seconds separated the lead pair as they headed out on the run, with Carvalho starting the run three minutes behind.

As the Canadian and Brazilian started the run in Jean Klock Park, which extends through part of Harbor Shore’s Jack Nicklaus golf course, Sanders teed off against the rest of the field with his blazing run pace. Knocking out 5:30 paced miles, Sanders was untouchable and recorded a race-best 1:12:36 half-marathon split on his way to his third IRONMAN 70.3 win of the season in 3:46:13. Amorelli, coming off block of altitude training, was next to cross the line in 3:56:00, while Mairo De Elias ran his way onto the podium in 3:58 37.

Snow melts the competition on the run

Ashley Clifford's (USA) 28:26 swim time set up a 14- and 16-second buffer to Caitlin Snow (USA) and Miranda Tomenson (CAN). Sarah Cameto (USA) was next (+0:57) followed by Jenni Seymour (ZAF), who was almost two minutes back.

By 25 miles into the bike Snow was 2:30 ahead of Clifford and Seymour. Accelerating through the second half, though, Seymour not only overtook Snow, she proceeded to build a 2:30 advantage of her own into T2.

Snow flew through the early stages of the run and was in the lead by three miles. She then ran over seven minutes faster than her closest rival and won in 4:18:17. Clifford was next across the line in 4:25:26, while Seymour completed the women’s podium in third (4:29:38).